A facelift (rhytidectomy), is a cosmetic procedure designed to smooth out deep lines and wrinkle and tighten saggy skin. The goal is to rejuvenate an individual’s appearance, making it more youthful. A facelift is one of the most well-known and popular of all the cosmetic surgeries.

Individuals that are unhappy with how they are aging, may find that a facelift is the ideal way to turn back the clock from the normal aging process.. A facelift is a very serious procedure and one that a person shouldn’t have done without much thought and consideration. Because it is impossible to reverse plastic surgery it is crucial that an individual is sure about having the surgery performed and has this procedure performed by an experienced and well qualified physician.

Facelift procedures have been around for some time. One of the first ever surgical lifts to have been performed is believed to have occurred in 1901.

For many years, facelifts mostly involved “skin excisions with primary closure.” Subcutaneous facelifts were extremely popular for some time. It wasn’t until l974, until major developments were made. The lower face and neck platysma were elevated without requiring the skin to be attached.

The technology and techniques used today have changed dramatically since face lifting was first introduced over a century ago. Today, it is possible for highly skilled surgeons to achieve very natural looking results.

Facelifts are utilized by both men and women to physically “turn back the hands of time.” It is popular among both sexes. Full facelifts are for older individuals, typically those between the ages of 50 and 65. Anyone younger than this typically won’t require this type of procedure.

During a facelift, a surgeon may tighten (separate or even remove) face muscles and saggy skin. They will also typically get rid of excess skin.

It is very important that the surgeon a person chooses to perform their surgery is experienced and board certified. A facelift is a very serious procedure that carries many risks. Once the procedure has been done, it can very difficult to correct mistakes. Conversely, a good facelift can make a person look and feel more youthful. It can also dramatically improve their confidence.

A facelift will typically last between 10 and 15 years. After this time, some people will want to have another one done.

There are a variety of facelift types and techniques. The Cutaneous (skin only), Traditional, Deep Plane, and Temporal facelifts are some of the most well known and often utilized.

The Cutaneous facelift focuses on the lower portion of the face and the neck. This is the oldest version of the facelift. It doesn’t utilize any tightening of the muscles so there is little risk to them or the nerves, which some people like. However, the results from this type of lift aren’t as long lasting as those in which the underlying muscles are tightened.

With a traditional facelift (SMAS), the lower face and neck are tightened. The underlying muscle layer is repositioned and lifted in the direction of the ears. The muscles are tightened and any excess skin removed.

The Deep Plane facelift is similar to the traditional facelift but with some substantial differences. The surgeon will cut to deeper plane in the face and then lift and reposition the muscles. Parts of the underlying muscle layers will be separated from deeper ones and also some facial structures. This technique is believed by some to provide a more natural result. There are some risks, however. A person has a higher chance of having their facial nerves injured.

A Temporal facelift’s focus is on the eyebrow area. This may be a good option for those individuals looking to raise a droopy brow.

Procedure

Because facelift techniques vary, the exact procedural steps will differ. However, there are similarities among the techniques. To begin, the surgeon will make the primary incision above the hairline and behind and in front of the ear. A second incision, smaller in size, will typically be made underneath the chin.

The tissue and the skin is separated and excess fat removed, if necessary. The tissue and muscle is then tightened and repositioned. The skin is pulled upward and also tightened. Any excess skin is removed and the incisions sutured close.

Recovery

Following surgery, a person will experience some pain. This will be managed with pain medications prescribed by the patient’s doctor. Antibiotics will also be prescribed. This is to prevent an infection from developing. It is important for patients to get up and walk around within a few days after surgery. This helps to get the blood circulating and also helps to prevent the formation of blood clots which can occur with a person sits or lay around for too long.

There will be considerable swelling and bruising after a facelift. This is perfectly normal and will eventually subside. Most people will be able to return to work in about two weeks time. After about one month and no more than four, a person should be completely back to normal.

Cost

Facelifts can be very expensive. Because it is considered to be an elective procedure, insurance companies won’t cover it. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery the average cost for a facelift is $6,881. However, it could be as little as $6,000 and as much as $15,000. Surgeons based on the coasts (East and West) are generally more expensive. The surgeon’s qualifications, clientele and reputation will also affect the price of the procedure, as will the technique) being used. The price of a facelift fee will include the surgeon’s, facility and anesthesia fee.

Complications

There a number of complications a person who undergoes a facelift might experience. They include infection, disfigurement, scarring, nerve damage, alopecia, skin flap, necrosis and parotid gland pseudocyst. While it is impossible to totally prevent facelift related complications, a person can lessen the likelihood that they occur by having a board certified, experienced and well respected surgeon perform the procedure in an accredited or licensed facility. Following the doctos pre and post op instructions can help decrease problems as well.

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

1. Am I a good candidate for a facelift?

2. Is there an alternative treatment that might be a better fit?

3. How much will facelift surgery cost?

4. What happens if I’m not satisfied with the results?

5. Does your office offer financing?

6. What happens in the event that an emergency arises?

7. Are you board certified?

8. Has anyone died in your care?

9. Where will the surgery take place?

10. Is the surgical facility licensed and/or accredited?

PRP Treatment for Facelift

PRP treatment is a cutting edge therapy that has proven to be an effective way to treat wounds as well as tissue and bone injuries. It has more recently been discovered to be an excellent skin rejuvenation procedure. Dermatologists are using it with increased regularity both in conjunction with treatments and also in lieu of them. For instance, instead of a traditional face lift, many dermatologists are beginning to offer a PRP only facelift.

Simple & Effective Procedure

A PRP Treatment for Face Lift is a very simple but effective procedure. To begin, a dermatologist will draw a small amount of blood from the patient. This blood is placed in a centrifuge machine that spins it down so that the blood components are separated. Whole blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets suspended in plasma. The platelets are removed and then injected into the face, specifically those parts that a patient wants rejuvenated. Aged, wrinkled, and dull skin are generally the targeted spots for rejuvenating the face.

PRP Treatment for Face Lift is a Newer Procedure

A PRP injection for a facelift is a newer procedure. However, it is quickly gaining popularity amongst both dermatologists and patients. This is because it has proven in many cases to be effective. It is also a simple and non-invasive procedure. Few dermatological procedures can make such a claim.

Blood platelets are central to the effectiveness of PRP therapy because they contain growth factors and other proteins. Growth factors help to jumpstart the healing of soft tissue damage. It also helps to stimulate the growth of collagen.

Once the growth factors are injected into the face, it begins to naturally rejuvenate itself. The results are quite noticeable for many. The effects of Dracula Therapy typically last up to one year.

A PRP treatment for facelift may be a good option for individuals who want to fill in wrinkles as well as fill in sunken parts of the face naturally without the use of synthetic fillers. Because PRP therapy uses the body’s own concentrated healing components, patients are attracted to this procedure. There is also no allergic reactions and the side effects, if any, are minimal. Most individuals won’t experience negative side effects or complications.

PRP Can Be Applied During Surgical Procedure for Facelift

A facelift can also be considered a surgical procedure. Surgical facelift procedures can be very invasive. Incisions will be made, skin may be excised, pulled back, and sutured down to get the perfect cosmetic look. Prp can also be extremely beneficial when applied during a surgical facelift.

Spraying prp to the suture lines and to the underside of facial flaps can increase the likelihood of accelerated wound healing which then leads to less scarring. Less blood loss, reduced swelling, and decreased bruising around the face is also noticed when prp is applied to patients who receive this procedure. Some physicians find that they are able to remove sutures a few days ahead of schedule when prp is applied to the suture lines.

In addition, the need for closed suction drains can be eliminated which adds to patient satisfaction. The aforementioned are all very positive results when using prp with a surgical facelift procedure. The skill and ability of the physician will play perhaps the biggest role in how the procedure turns out. If a surgeon does not do a good job, the outcome will likely be unnatural and unattractive. A patient who undergoes a surgical facelift may also experience nerve damage, reduced feeling and loss of movement in the face. Surgical complications might also occur.

There are few risks and complications associated with a PRP facelift. This is in large part due to the blood platelets utilized in the procedure. The concentrated platelets used in this type of facelift come naturally from the patient. Subsequently, the body will not reject them. Secondly, only an injection is required. No incisions are made or skin removed. A PRP facelift results in less blood loss, scarring, bruising and pain. The recovery period is also much faster.

Overall, a PRP facelift is minimally invasive and considered to be quite safe. It also allows dermatologists to achieve a different look then one achieved via a surgical facelift. PRP helps to rejuvenate and enhance the skin. It also improves volume.

Common Usage

PRP facelifts are commonly used to approve the appearance of glabellar lines, marionette lines, nasolabial folds, crow’s feet, smile lines, forehead lines, and vertical lip lines. It is also an effective treatment for acne scars. Results are noticeable after a few weeks.

A PRP procedure takes about 20 minutes. Either platelets retrieved via whole blood (the patient’s own) is used or a product such as Selphyl is utilized. The latter is a platelet rich fibrin matrix. Prior to the injection, someone will clean the skin and numb it in preparation for the injection. This may be done with a spray or topical solution. Sometimes a shot will be given for this purpose. After the platelets have been injected into the skin, the doctor will place a cool compress on the injection site(s).

Post procedure, the area where the platelets have been injected may turn red. However it quickly dissipates. Some people will experience mild inflammation. A patient should begin to see noticeable changes in their appearance in about 1 to 2 weeks. Because the body is responsible for the rejuvenation, the results are very natural looking.

Patients may or may not experience any pain after the procedure. If they do, it typically isn’t severe. It can usually be successfully treated with a mild over-the-counter pain reliever. A doctor may prescribe medication for this purpose.

Cost of the PRP for Face Lift

The cost of Dracula Therapy, on average, costs between $1000 and $1500. This is relatively affordable and much more so than a surgical facelift, which can be at least three times more expensive.

PRP Questions To Ask Your Doctor

Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

What type of results should I expect?

When should I begin to see results?

How much does the prp for face lift procedure cost?

Will I experience any pain?

How much experience do you have performing this procedure?

What are my alternatives?

What happens if the procedure doesn’t work?

What complications might I experience?

How long will the prp for facelift procedure take?

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